From Death To Dominion

They arrived at the academy's battle arena—a circular stage spanning 50 meters in radius—just as more students began to gather. In recent times, official challenges had become few and far between, making each bout an eagerly awaited spectacle.

On one side of the arena stood Lu Wen, his confident smirk evident even before the duel began. Opposite him, Ye Xian maintained a calm and composed demeanor. As the two fighters took their positions, murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Look! Isn't that the academy's goddess, Ye Qianying?"

"Yeah! She looks like a fairy descended from the heavens."

"Did she come to support Ye Xian, or is she just here to intervene if he's about to get beaten?"

"Has Ye Xian lost his mind? Challenging Lu Wen, who's two whole realms above him? That's pure suicide!"

"He's just courting death."

"Why do you care? Just sit back and enjoy the show!"

As the students whispered among themselves, another sentiment began to brew among the male disciples—jealousy.

"Tch. Why does Ye Xian get such special treatment? Even Ye Qianying is here to watch his fight."

"Right?! How lucky can one guy be? If I were about to get beaten to a pulp, would she come watch me too?"

"Dream on. If anything, she might step in to save him. Who wouldn't want a goddess like her stepping in for them?"

"Damn it, I'd gladly take a beating if it meant she'd look at me the way she looks at him."

Amidst the crowd's banter, Ye Qianying stood slightly apart, her arms crossed as she observed the arena with a furrowed brow. On the surface, she appeared as calm and untouchable as ever, but those who knew her well could see the subtle tension in her gaze.

"Ye Xian… what are you thinking?" she muttered under her breath.

She had tried to dissuade him from this reckless challenge, but Ye Xian had only responded with that same infuriating, carefree smile of his. Now, standing amidst the growing crowd, she found herself gripping her sleeve tightly, her heart wavering between trust and worry.

A part of her wanted to believe in him—believe that he had some kind of plan, some hidden ace up his sleeve. But another part of her couldn't ignore the overwhelming gap between their cultivation realms.

Two entire realms… that was an insurmountable difference in power. No matter how talented Ye Xian was, there was only so much he could do against a superior opponent like Lu Wen.

"If things get ugly…" her expression darkened, "I'll step in."

Her status within the academy gave her some authority, and if Lu Wen truly went too far, she wouldn't hesitate to intervene. Even if it meant embarrassing Ye Xian, his life mattered more.

As she weighed her options, she caught a glimpse of Ye Xian's expression—calm, unwavering, utterly unshaken by the taunts and murmurs around him.

"Why… why do you look so unbothered?"

Her heart clenched. Was he truly this confident, or was he merely putting up a front? She wasn't sure, but either way, she would be watching closely. If Ye Xian was in danger, she would be the first to step forward—even if he ended up resenting her for it.

Meanwhile, the jealous murmurs of the male disciples continued, only growing louder.

"Hmph, I bet he's just acting tough to impress her."

"Even if he loses, he still wins. He's got the goddess watching over him."

"Damn it, Ye Xian! Why is life so unfair?!"

Lu Wen couldn't help but snear at the banter. The students' comments only reinforced his arrogance and anger as he glanced over at Ye Xian. But Ye Xian remained unperturbed; he regarded the crowd's chatter as nothing more than background noise.

Breaking the silence, Lu Wen proposed, "How about we make this fight a bit more interesting?"

Ye Xian tilted his head. "What do you have in mind?"

Lu Wen's thoughts briefly drifted to the infamous duel with Steve—the one where Steve's autopuncture points had been sealed despite his use of Ki Armor.

Lu Wen speculated that perhaps Steve hadn't fully activated his Ki Armor, or maybe Ye Xian had employed some mysterious artifact to break through its defenses and seal his acupuncture points.

If this is also not the method he use the only way remain is to break the ki armor with greater force but how could taking consideration of Ye Xian realm it was impossible.

Whatever the case, Lu Wen was confident. He planned to end Ye Xian's challenge with a brutal strike, one that would not only defeat him but also crippled him and humiliate him in front of everyone.

Before Lu Wen could press further, Ye Xian offered his own twist.

"No, that method is too predictable. Let's try something new."

Lu Wen frowned in surprise. "What do you propose?"

"We both blindfold ourselves and bind our eyes with cloth, so neither of us can see,"

Ye Xian explained coolly.

"The first to land ten strikes on their opponent wins. And since you're an Element Disciple with far superior spiritual perception and strength compared to a Ki Refining cultivator like me, you must not use your elemental Ki in either attack or defense."

In the realm of cultivation, spiritual perception was a coveted gift—it allowed a cultivator to sense everything around them, almost like having 360-degree vision within a limited range.

Lu Wen's advantage in spiritual perception had always been one of his greatest strengths, especially as it increased with each realm he conquered.

Lu Wen considered the challenge. Although he was wary of any potential trickery, the restriction on using elemental Ki didn't seem a significant handicap when facing an opponent two realms below him in cultivation. With a self-assured smile, he nodded.

"Sure."

After both parties signed the official duel contract on a deed paper, a battle attendant approached and securely blindfolded them.

The crowd erupted into shouts and cheers, many eagerly anticipating a swift victory for Lu Wen and the inevitable humiliation of Ye Xian.

The moment the duel was announced, a containment barrier enveloped the battle arena, ensuring that no external sounds or distractions could interfere with the fight but they could hear the sound from inside the barrier. The spectators, eager for a spectacle, pressed closer, their excitement palpable.

"Fight!"

As soon as the signal was given, Lu Wen unleashed his spiritual perception, instantly extending it over a thirty-meter radius.

Within this field, he could normally detect every movement with precision. However, to his growing confusion, Ye Xian was nowhere to be sensed.

Lu Wen's mind raced.

'Did he move out of range already? No, that's not possible… He was just here.'

Despite his momentary uncertainty, Lu Wen did not panic. He knew that both of them had started at the edge of the arena. With slow, measured steps, he advanced, expanding his perception with each movement, confident that Ye Xian had nowhere to hide.

'I have the advantage. My spiritual perception is naturally superior to his.'

Lu Wen reassured himself. After all, spiritual perception was something determined at birth, growing stronger only as cultivators advanced in their realms. He had trained rigorously, honing it into a powerful tool.

But where was Ye Xian?

Frowning, Lu Wen sneered and taunted, his voice echoing within the silence of the barrier.

"Where are you hiding, little rabbit?"

He chuckled mockingly.

"Is this the game you proposed? Running away instead of facing me head-on?"

His smirk widened as he continued

"What's the matter? "

"Are you even a man?"

"Do you only know how to boast?"

"Pathetic—"

SLAP!

A crisp, resounding slap echoed through the arena. The impact was so clear and sharp that even outside the barrier, the audience could hear it.

The crowd fell into stunned silence.

For a brief moment, it was as if time had frozen. Every student watching stood motionless, their eyes wide in disbelief.

Ye Xian had just slapped Lu Wen.

Lu Wen's body stumbled slightly before he caught himself, his face burning—not just from the pain, but from sheer humiliation. His eyes, though covered by the blindfold, flared with anger as his spiritual perception finally locked onto Ye Xian's position.

He could sense his opponent dashing towards the edge of the arena, a composed and controlled retreat.

'He… he actually hit me?!'

Shock quickly turned into fury. Lu Wen clenched his fists, his blood boiling. Just moments ago, he had been the one taunting Ye Xian, expecting an easy and humiliating victory. Yet, in front of the entire academy, he was the one who had just been humiliated.

But how had Ye Xian done it?

The truth was, Ye Xian had completely concealed his presence. Using a technique called Shrouded Aura, he had erased every trace of his existence—his breathing, his heartbeat, his energy fluctuations. It was as if he had melted into the void itself.

This allowed him to move undetected, even under Lu Wen's powerful spiritual perception.

While Lu Wen had been shouting and scanning the area, Ye Xian had already made his move, swiftly approaching without making a single sound.

And when the perfect moment arrived—he delivered a solid, resounding slap to Lu Wen's face.

This was only possible because Ye Xian's spiritual perception had undergone a massive transformation. Ever since he had awakened from death, Adler's memories and soul had fused with his own, dramatically amplifying his abilities.

His spiritual perception had expanded to a staggering 100-meter radius, far surpassing even those in higher realms. Moreover, he could feel it growing stronger with every minor breakthrough.

In this fight, Lu Wen wasn't the hunter—he was the prey.

And the real battle was only just beginning.